Jittery green and patient orange

We met this metallic green sweat bee on the path up from the beach today. It flew a few inches above the ground, never pausing, never sticking to any direction for long, zigging and zagging like a rabbit with a fox after it. But it was brilliant, and green, so very green; we had to get its photo!

Looks like an Agapostemon.

So we stumbled about, bent over double, cameras aiming at the spot where it had been half a second before, exclaiming, "There it is! No, it's gone! There! Missed again! . . ." It is a well-travelled path, especially on a warm Sunday afternoon. A whole raft of people are probably still laughing.

I took over 30 photos, Laurie a few more. And the photo above is the best we could do. Dratted speedster!

And I came home to my peaceful orange cross spider, resting quietly on her web between the orange begonia and the sausage vine. As usual. Ah!

Araneus diadematus, a small female. Nice kid; stays put.